The Forbidden City in Beijing is the world's largest palace complex, spanning 180 acres with 980 surviving buildings and 8,728 rooms. Built between 1406 and 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, it served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors across two dynasties — a seat of power forbidden to ordinary citizens for nearly 500 years.
Now known as the Palace Museum, this UNESCO World Heritage Site houses over 1.8 million artifacts and receives more visitors annually than any other museum on Earth. Virtual tours let you explore its vast courtyards and ornate halls without the crowds.
Google Arts & Culture: Inside the Palace Museum
🏯 Palace Museum Virtual Tour
Walk through the Meridian Gate, cross the Golden Water River, and enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony — the heart of imperial China — in immersive virtual galleries.
Enter the Palace →What You Can Explore
- Hall of Supreme Harmony — The largest wooden structure in China, where emperors held grand ceremonies and the Dragon Throne still stands.
- Palace of Heavenly Purity — The emperor's private residence, where state secrets were kept behind a plaque reading "Open and Aboveboard."
- Imperial Garden — A tranquil retreat of ancient cypresses, rockeries, and pavilions at the northern end of the complex.
- Nine Dragon Wall — A stunning 29-meter glazed tile wall depicting nine writhing dragons, one of only three surviving examples in China.
- Clock and Watch Gallery — One of the world's finest collections of 18th-century timepieces, gifts from European ambassadors.
💡 Pro Tip
The Forbidden City is designed along a perfect north-south axis. Start at the southern Meridian Gate and walk straight north through each successive hall — this is the exact path an emperor would have taken during a grand ceremony.
Fascinating Facts
- No Trees in the Outer Court — The three main halls have no trees to prevent assassins from hiding and to emphasize imperial authority against the open sky
- 9,999 Rooms — Legend says the complex has 9,999 rooms, one fewer than the mythical 10,000 in heaven's palace, as a sign of respect to the gods
- 52-Meter Moat — A 3.8-kilometer moat surrounds the entire complex, crossed by five marble bridges at the main entrance
- Golden Roof Tiles — The yellow glazed roof tiles were reserved exclusively for the emperor; using them elsewhere was punishable by death
Enhance Your Virtual Visit
Recommended Gear for Virtual Travel
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Meta Quest 3S VR Headset
Walk through the imperial halls in full VR — feel the scale of the world's largest palace complex.
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"The Forbidden City" by Gilles Béguin
A richly illustrated guide to the architecture, art, and imperial history of Beijing's greatest treasure.